Tales of Terra #1: Legends of Old

Searcher of Legends

Alredon woke earlier the following morning, got dressed and prepared to leave atop Asher to meet with Gifferd. It was a cloudy morning, with the feel of moisture filling the air. As he rode down the pathway, Alredon could hear Asher's hooves clop against both mud and stone. Once in the village, he tied Asher at the trough before he took his seasoning box into the inn. There weren't very many people within the main part of the inn. Only Gifferd, the young man who served him, and a young maiden sitting in one of the corners reading from a small stack of books next to her.
"Alright Gifferd, let's see what you can do with these," Alredon said, announcing his arrival to his old friend, setting the box upon the counter.
Gifferd opened the box seeing all of the seasonings with a glint in his eye.
"You can go ahead and wait at a table for your meal. Would you like some ale?"
"Sure, why not?" This response made Gifferd laugh as he took the box into his kitchen. Alredon looked out of a nearby window to see his stallion drinking from the trough, which brought a smile to his face. After about five minutes of sitting at one of the empty tables, the young man came walking up to him with a mug of ale and a plate of food.
"Gifferd hopes you'll enjoy what he has prepared," the young man said as he set down a plate of eggs, pork sausage, bread, and a type of porridge.
"I'm certain I will, he's always had a gift for surprising me with his skills." Alredon responded before letting the man return to his other duties.
He looked down at the food, noticing it didn't look overly special but knew when it came to Gifferd, there was always more than meets the eye. As he ate the delicious food, he noticed how it was quite a bit spicier and was packed with more flavor than it usually would have. Just as Alredon was truly starting to dig in, the three thugs from the day before came bursting into the inn, acting like they were searching for someone. All of them were holding a sword in their right hands except for the one with the broken arm who had his sword in his left hand. They quickly spotted Alredon as he sat by himself.
"There he is," the leader gestured, a smile growing on his face as the three of them walked towards him. It was obvious that they were still holding a grudge from what had happened the day before.
"You boys better get out of my inn if you are looking for trouble," Gifferd said, glaring at the three of them and their drawn weapons.
"Back off, old man. This only concerns us and this son of a whore!" The lead thug pointed the tip of his blade at Alredon's chest, anger filling his words.
After hearing his words, Gifferd's eyes went wide, turning to look at Alredon, who calmly finished his food and ale before he stood up and faced the thugs before him.
"What do you thugs want?" Alredon asked, gripping the handle of his dagger.
"You broke his arm and now you will pay for it!"
"He brought that upon himself by putting his hand on my shoulder," Alredon replied calmly, not intimidated by the thugs. "You three better leave before you get yourself hurt worse than your friend there."
"That's it!" The lead thug yelled out before he pulled his arm back to thrust his sword into Alredon. Both of them became motionless in front of one another, the other thugs thinking he had run the man through. Gifferd looked over with worry that Alredon got killed in his place. Those thoughts vanished when the thug's sword clattered to the floor.
"This is what happens to those who call my mother a whore," Alredon whispered in the thug's ear before kicking him off of his dagger and into the other thugs' arms. "Now then, this is your final warning, leave or die."
The two thugs looked at each other before they dragged their friend out of the inn, leaving Alredon watching with his bloody dagger and the sword at his feet.
"Sorry for the mess," he said as he gave the keeper three silver pieces to pay for the food and ale as he brought his dishes over and sat on a stool. "You should keep the sword, you might be able to sell it for a good price."
"It's alright. Thanks for not breaking anything this time," Gifferd said, taking the plate and the coins before refilling the mug with more ale.
While Alredon sat there drinking and thinking about what he was going to do next, the young woman came over and sat on the stool next to him. She had long blond hair, white skin, and wore knee high boots, tan pants, and a white shirt underneath her cloak. The woman asked Gifferd for some water as she set her bag next to her.
Alredon grabbed a cloth from the counter and began to clean off his blade. As he cleaned his dagger, he noticed the woman gazing at his tattoo on his shoulder.
"Hey mister?"
"Aye?" He responded, not even looking up from cleaning his blade.
"May I please see your tattoo? I feel like I've seen something like it before," The woman asked as she looked at his shoulder.
"Why do you ask?" Alderon stopped cleaning his blade, thinking this woman might be someone who supports the side he fought against.
"I've just studied banners and symbols from across the world and different parts of history," she replied. Alredon raised an eyebrow as he uncovered the rest of his tattoo, making the woman's eyes go wide from recognizing it. "Wait, you were at the battle of the Trenchen Fields?"
"Yes," he sighed, still expecting her to get aggressive.
"That's great! I've been looking for an experienced warrior. Have you heard of the monster within the nearby lands?" The woman asked as she pulled out one of her books and flipped through the pages.
"That would depend on your definition of a monster." Throughout the years, Alredon grew to dislike the term monster, as many used it in a derogatory way for something they didn't like.
"Would this count?" The woman asked, setting the book open on the counter showing an image of a strange creature with toothed tentacles coming from its back.
"Aye, the rumored beast that only comes out at night to take people who wander into its territory and are never seen again," Alredon said, putting his dagger back into its sheath. "What about it?"
"I heard about it back home and how no one would go to help the village it supposedly was terrorizing. So I wanted to find it and try helping the people that live there if I can." Her words intrigued Alredon, since most of the humans he had come in contact with preferred to only help themselves instead of going out of their way to help someone else.
"Two things, my dear. First is that that beast doesn't even exist and two, if you want his help, then you'd have to hire him since he is a sell sword after all," Gifferd explained to the young woman, resulting in Alredon giving him an annoyed look. Old Gifferd stopped talking after receiving the look from his old friend. The woman looked between the two men, confusion in her eyes.
"If you are a sell sword, then I'm certain the village will pay you for getting rid of the beast." The woman said, almost sounding desperate to get him to go after a fake animal. He could tell from the tone in her voice that she was pretty nervous on the off chance that a creature like that existed.
"She has a point. If it doesn't exist, then you could say you got rid of it and get paid. If it does, then you can handle it and get paid," Gifferd suggested, receiving another exasperated look from Alredon, as if asking which side he was on. "I'm just saying. You do need the coin."
As much as Alredon didn't like the situation Gifferd was putting him in, he couldn't argue on the state of his funds. If he was to replenish them, he would have to take on a job soon anyway.
"Alright, fine, I'll go. But I'm going to need to get some things from my hut, do you have a horse?" Alredon asked as he got up from the stool and watched the woman put her book away.
"Of course I have a horse!" The woman responded sounding offended to the idea that she would travel without the use of a horse or a cart.
"Good. I'll meet you at the road east of town in one hour."
"Thank you, sir. I'll be there!" The woman proceeded to head out of the inn, leaving Alredon to give Gifferd an angered look.
"You know I didn't want to bring that stuff back out. Why did you get me into this situation?" Alredon asked.
"Because you need to get past what happened in those fields and a way for you to do that is to use those skills of yours for helping others," replied Gifferd, cleaning the counter in front of him before placing the seasoning box down before Alredon. "If this beast does exist, then you will need your family's heirloom to help take care of it."
"There's another reason for you wanting me to go on this journey, isn't there?" Alredon asked as he grabbed the box and stood up from his stool.
"Does there need to be another reason?" Gifferd retorted. "Or are you thinking about how you kept trying to prove yourself to your father?"
"With you there generally is," he said as his grip on his box tightened at Gifferds second question. "As for my father, you know that whenever I tried to do something, it was never enough for him. He left me to figure things out for myself and take care of my mother."
"I know and if you stay on that sort of path, you will find yourself in an early grave."
"Maybe, and if that is my fate, then I'd prove my father right."
"Take the advice of an old man. You have the skills to do some amazing feats. Don't put them to waste trying to earn the approval of a man who you haven't even seen in years."
"Then tell me, what should I be doing?" Alredon asked as the two of them walked out of Gifferds inn.
"Instead of fighting to prove yourself, fight to help others, like you used to. And for you to wield the same blade that gave you your name."
"You mean before the trenches? Sorry Gifferd, it's hard to fight with that blade, since it reminds me of the horrors I witnessed. As far as the eye could see was death and destruction. People lying in pools of crimson mud," Alredon explained as he looked up towards the now clear sunny sky, feeling the heat touch his cheeks. "How can I wield it again without being reminded of what had happened?"
Gifferd stood quietly for a moment before he replied. "Your mind is already reminding you of what happened. Instead of fearing your family's blade, you should use it to fight for the poor souls that can not fight for themselves." He looked up at an eagle flying effortlessly through the air. "I can't tell you how to live your life, Alredon. All I can do is give you advice and let you pick for yourself."
Gifferd's words echoed through his mind during his ride back to his hut. He quickly packed a variety of supplies and attached them to his saddle for the journey ahead of him. He walked over to the locked door with an old key in his right hand. Alredon took a few deep breaths as he knelt down and unlocked it, swinging the door open to reveal a dark compartment underneath his hut. Inside a large truck sat, and after he opened it he found his old sword in its black scabbard and his leather armor underneath it.
"It's been too long, old friend," Alredon said as he grabbed the sword's scabbard with his hand as he looked at its light grey handle. The hilt went to a point made out of light blue dyed metal with dark blue in the center. Above his hand, the guard was two crescent shaped pieces of light grey metal with a white gem in the middle. He grabbed the handle and drew the sword from its home, revealing a light blue blade with a darker blue fuller going down the center. On both sides down the center of the fuller was some silver engraved writing, made in ancient runes. The right side reads, May the Light, Smite the Darkness while the left read, Let Hopes Flames Burn Brightly. It had been many years since the last time he had drawn the sword from its scabbard and had almost forgotten how its blade reflected even a small amount of light. Alredon remembered how it was considered a bastard sword due to having a handle made for a long sword but had a shorter blade.
After sliding it back into its scabbard, he picked up the armor. It took him some time to put the armor on since it had been years since he last wore it and he was slightly out of practice. Once Alredon was fully armored, he attached his sword to the side of his hip and tied his cloak around his neck. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes hovering over the light grey patterns that stood out against the dark grey leather. His eyes finally landed on the five point leaf on the chest, a symbol of where he had come from.
"Alright, Asher, let's see if we can find our new traveling companion," Alredon said as he stepped out of his hut and hopped onto Asher's back, riding off to only look back at his hut once before it vanished from his line of sight. He rode through the town, which made everyone in sight stare in awe at him fully armored with his mystical blade on his hip. Asher galloped along and made their way to where Alredon had agreed to meet up with his new companion. Upon reaching the spot, he found her sitting on a stump with a white and brown horse next to her.
"Wow! You certainly changed," the woman said as she looked him up and down as she stood up.
"Before we go any further, may I please know the name of the person I'm travelling with?" Alredon asked as he watched the woman get up on her horse.
"Oh my apologies, my name is Klissa Cargyll."
Alredon recognized the name as an important and fairly powerful family that were said to have royal connections from the other side of the inland sea. And yet he wondered why a member wasn't in the lands that her family was said to live. "May I ask your name, sir?"
"Alredon," he replied as he turned his horse to begin their journey down the road out of town.
"Wait! Are you Alredon Grezana?" Klissa asked with excitement as she followed him.
Alredon looked over at her seeing her staring at him. He realized she was gonna be a pain to travel with.
"My father fought in the battle of the Trenchen Fields. He told me of an Qitaran warrior who wielded a spear whose light cut through the darkness of the battlefield," Klissa said.
"Illumina. And it's a swordstaff."
"Beg your pardon?"
"That's the name of my weapon, Illumina," Alredon said as he urged Asher into a trot, with hopes to get ahead of his companion. "And it's a swordstaff."
Klissa matched his pace, her curiosity about him and what happened on the battlefield clearly not yet satisfied. "Please, tell me about the trenches. I want to know."
"Nay, you don't. You probably think war is glorious, like almost everyone else, but you will learn very quickly there is no glory in war," Alredon explained refusing to look at her, anger flaring his eyes. "If you really want to know what it was like then just go there yourself. I've heard no one has gone there since that battle."
"Why would no one go back?"
"Because the dead are still there. It is a place of darkness where foul creatures are said to live and feed upon those who had fallen." He knew no matter what Klissa imagined, it would never match the real thing. Wanting to change the subject, he asked, "Why are you so interested in the beast, Miss Cargyll?"
"Oh well I'm fascinated with legends and tales of old. That beast just happens to be one that many people have seen," Klissa replied.
"So you're trying to find it? Why?"
"To see if the legend was true."
Alredon found this young woman to be a curious individual, especially since she was looking for a creature said to be really dangerous.
"Besides I've come a long way to get this far, so why should I back out when I am so close?" continued Klissa.
"And what of your family? I'm guessing they probably didn't approve of having one of their members going after legends on the far side of the world."
"Me and my mother and sister were visiting family that lives on this side of the inland sea. I thought it could be my only chance to go exploring." As their horses continued to go down the road, all the sounds from the town vanished and the clopping of hooves on dirt filled the air around them. "Just out of curiosity, you said your weapon was a swordstaff and not a spear. What's the difference?"
"A spear's point only lets the wielder to pierce whatever is before it. Where as a swordstaff has a long blade allowing one to slash and stab like a sword."
"And where is this swordstaff? I don't see you carrying it," she said, looking up and down at Asher and him.
"It's right here," Alredon said, gesturing at the blade on his hip.
"But that is just a sword."
Since she didn't seem like a threat, he decided to take a chance with her.
"It's a mystical relic, so it has several different abilities. One of which is to allow the user to collapse the handle down to that of a normal sword handle to make it easier to carry and conceal during travel or combat," Alredon explained as they continued down the path, allowing the trees to move past them.
"I've heard of mystical relics. You're telling me that sword is one? Where did you get it?" Klissa asked as she brought her horse to the other side of Alredon and Asher to get a better look at his blade. "It's so beautiful."
"It was given to me by my father as an heirloom of his side of the family," replied Alredon, rolling his eyes at how his new companion became enthralled over his weapon. "And aye it is an actual relic."
"What else can it do?"
"Quite a few things but all I will tell you is that the guards change when it becomes a swordstaff."
"What do you mean?" Klissa asked, pulling her attention away from the sword and up at Alredon's face.
"When it becomes a swordstaff, the two crescent pieces move upward, turning into a curved crossguard that can be used to block an opponent's weapon or deal a devastating attack."
Although Klissa was fascinated with the complexity of the weapon and how it could be used in physical attacks, Alredon knew the blade's true strength resided elsewhere. Unknown to most, even the best researchers, the blade was enchanted with magical abilities. Alredon preferred to keep those details to himself.
The two continued riding side-by-side down the main dirt road, hearing the sounds of the birds chirping in the air and the wind blowing between the branches above them. Alredon realized their journey would be trying on his patience as Klissa's curiosity caused her to break the peaceful moment with more questions.
"Are you really just doing this job for the money?"
"I guess it will depend."
"On what?" Klissa raised an eyebrow, probably expecting a more straightforward answer than the one she got.
"If this beast actually exists," Alredon said. "If it does, then I'll make sure it won't hurt anyone else again. But if it doesn't, then yes, I will only do it for the money."
If he was going to waste his time on something that didn't exist then he might as well get some coin out of it. As Alredon reflected more on his response, his mind shot back to Gifferd and how he said Alredon should fight for those who need him. Especially if the supposed beast was for one reason or another attacking people.
"I guess that makes sense."
"Do you actually believe it exists?" Alredon asked, not entirely sure if he cared about whatever answer she was gonna give him.
"Considering all of the amazing creatures that can be found in the far corners of the world, surely something like the Octovore could exist as well." She looked down at her bag of books, setting one hand on it. "It's hard for someone to truly know the difference between what is real and what sounds real."
Alredon knew what she was talking about, for he had grown up on stories of heroes with weapons of great power fighting off evil monsters causing destruction. But he soon discovered few things in the world are truly black or white.
"And what will you do if the Octovore actually exists?"
"I don't know. I'd probably want to take something back, so my family would believe I was right about it."
"So this is just to prove you were right and your family was wrong?"
"Nay, of course not! I'd probably start to think if this mythical creature exists, then what other ones do as well in the other parts of the world? And if so, do things like the gods exist as well."
"Like the ethereals?"
"Aye! Exactly!"
"What are your thoughts on the ethereals anyway?"
This question seemed to catch Klissa off guard. Everyone in the world knew ethereals were said to be god-like beings with incredible powers.
"I don't really know. I mean of course I've heard of them and have heard of their fortress that flies through the air so they can look down upon us."
"Do you think what the stories say about them are true?"
"It does seem like they bring a form of peace to this half of the world. Though I can understand why the people who live in these lands don't like the idea of someone looking down upon them," Klissa explained before looking over at Alredon. "What about you? Do you think they bring peace to these lands?"
"In a way I guess they do. But something I've learned over the years is that everyone has a darker side," Alredon replied, as he looked over at Klissa. "Besides, if they were truly gods then they wouldn't feel fear."
"And they do?"
"Why else do you think they caused the annihilation of the dragons?" Alredon asked, bringing his horse to a stop with Klissa following suit. "So they wouldn't have any threats to their little flying fortress. Before them, the rulers of the skies were the dragons of old." He looked up towards the sky as he remembered how he grew up loving dragons and how he hoped to see one someday. But that dream went away when he learned of how they were all hunted down and killed.
"I thought it was humans who killed off the dragons?" Klissa questioned. He figured she had seen a good number of the history books, all of which said it was humans who wiped the dragons out.
"Dragons were some of the most powerful beasts this world has ever seen. Do you really think humans would've been able to wipe them out by themselves?" Alredon knew humans had done some great and destructive things throughout history but when it came to dragons, they were pretty small creatures.
"So if it wasn't for the power and knowledge given to them by the Ethereals, then humanity wouldn't have gotten the weapons and courage to challenge the great flying reptiles," Klissa theorized, almost seeming to talk to herself as she spoke.